Where have all the nursing jobs gone? Just a few short years ago, nursing graduates had no worries about finding their first RN job—no longer the case in recent years.

Where have all the nursing jobs gone? Just a few short years ago, nursing graduates had no worries about finding their first RN job—no longer the case in recent years. In 2009-2010, the job placement rate for California nursing graduates was only 59%, with 27.5% of graduates unable to find employment in nursing. PUC graduates fared somewhat better. During the same time frame, 68.2% found employment and only 12% were unable to find employment in nursing.

So, what do new graduates do when unable to find a job? The PUC nursing department encourages graduates with an A.S. to continue their education and, ultimately, obtain their B.S.N. The department is encouraging more students to continue their education. The B.S.N. program continues to grow and the curriculum is designed to support students' seamless transition from the associate degree to completion of the B.S.N.

In the meantime, the department works closely with Adventist Health and other local employers to assist students in finding work. In 2001, the nursing department sponsored its first job fair. There were 13 health facilities represented and between 20 and 30 organizations have participated in the job fair every year since. This annual fair provides an important opportunity for students to make several job inquiries at one event.

Two years ago, the local region of Adventist Health partnered with Versant to offer an RN residency program to help new graduates transition into being successful members of the nursing profession. Many PUC graduates found employment through the Versant program and PUC's partnership with Adventist Health continues, always on the lookout for opportunities to prepare nurses for service.

Our leadership here at PUC has challenged faculty to incorporate service learning into the curriculum. This task was then handed down to the 5th quarter medical-surgical nursing students.

Our leadership here at PUC has challenged faculty to incorporate service learning into the curriculum. This task was then handed down to the 5th quarter medical-surgical nursing students.

Their assignment: Find a service project that benefits our community and relates to one of the topics covered in class. The fall 2011 NURS 222 class chose to participate in “No Shave November”— a campaign for prostate cancer awareness. They gathered 23 participants, 13 of which were men in 5th quarter nursing (see below). The remaining 10 were friends and staff from our clinical site who joined in on the fun.

These men made the commitment to refrain from shaving for the month of November to promote prostate cancer awareness. The core students also wore buttons and placed signs around campus.

While No Shave November does not directly raise money for prostate cancer awareness, the class leaders Ryan Reynolds and Keaton Armstrong registered on the campaign’s website (http://us.movember.com) to collect donations. The class raised over $300.

Movember is an international campaign that has raised over $14.5 million U.S. dollars to date for cancer research. More importantly, these campaigns serve to change the established attitudes and lifestyle habits men have, especially when it comes to their health. The campaigns are designed to educate men, and the women in their lives, about the health risks they face and the steps they can take to increase their chance of survival through early detection, diagnosis and treatment.

No Shave November Participants:

*Keaton

Armstrong

James

M

*Derek

Beddoe

Hugo

G

*Wayne

Hsaio

Romulo

Bautista

*Alan

Kohl

Ryan

Cranston

*Ernest

Ly

Matt

Fillman

*Mike

Pena

Chris

Glass

*Ryan

Reynolds

Thomas

Kane

*Ryan

Robinson

Troy

Paananen

*Nebil

Salah

Josh

Souza

*Rhanjee

Salva

Steve

W

*Jon

Tan

*Jan

Vinas

*Rob

Zamora

* Student in 5th quarter NURS 222

The winter 2012 5th quarter medical-surgical nursing class compiled a team to participate in the April 2012 Susan Koman Foundation Run. They combined forces with the 4th quarter class, who had just begun their 5th quarter at the time of the run.

In June 2009, at the request of the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, a B.S.N. program was started in Napa.

In June 2009, at the request of the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, a B.S.N. program was started in Napa. The program is structured to accommodate nurses who work full time. Courses, offered in sequence, meet one evening a week. The required nursing and religion classes can be completed in 18 months, with the remaining G.E. credit acquired either on the Angwin campus or through transfer credit. Students are able to earn their B.S.N. in under two years. The second group of students to go through the program will finish in June. There are plans to start a third session this summer.